presbyterian

[ prez-bi-teer-ee-uhn, pres- ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or based on the principle of ecclesiastical government by presbyters or presbyteries.
2. (initial capital letter) designating or pertaining to various churches having this form of government and professing more or less modified forms of Calvinism.

noun

1. (initial capital letter) a member of a Presbyterian church; a person who supports Presbyterianism.

Presbyterian

¹

/ ˌprɛzbɪˈtɪərɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to any of various Protestant Churches governed by presbyters or lay elders and adhering to various modified forms of Calvinism

noun

1. a member of a Presbyterian Church

presbyterian

²

/ ˌprɛzbɪˈtɪərɪən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating Church government by presbyters or lay elders

noun

1. an upholder of this type of Church government

Derived Forms

• ˌPresbyˈterianism, noun
• ˌpresbyˈterianism, noun
• ˌpresbyˌterianˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• non-Pres·by·teri·an adjective noun
• pro-Pres·by·teri·an adjective noun
• pseudo-Presby·teri·an adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of presbyterian¹

First recorded in 1635–45; presbytery + -an

Example Sentences

“The captain said there was a person on board who worked in a lab at Texas Health Presbyterian,” Lupher said.

From The Daily Beast

That and incompetence at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital may have caused the deadly disease to spread.

From The Daily Beast

Paul employed his wife, a deacon in their Bowling Green presbyterian church, for damage control.

From The Daily Beast

Neyoy is the first immigrant to take sanctuary at Southside Presbyterian in over 30 years.

From The Daily Beast

His father was an immigrant Scottish Presbyterian minister and had kept his older son at home and educated him himself.

From The Daily Beast

Vincent Alsop died; a presbyterian clergyman, who attacked Dr. Sherlock with great wit and some seriousness.

From Project Gutenberg

They have an old Cathedral here (now Presbyterian) of which the citizens seem quite proud, I can't perceive why.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Presbyterian Church under the care of Mr. Ellis are 39 communicants.

From Project Gutenberg

And, above all, it is necessary that the Free Presbyterian Church should have regard to explicit solemn covenant obligations.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Palfrey terms this attempt a "Presbyterian cabal," and calls its leaders "conspirators."

From Project Gutenberg